Cigaret dispenser with conversion kit

ABSTRACT

A conversion kit applicable on location to a conventional cigaret dispenser adapts it without externally visible change for vending packages of increased length. The required larger magazine extends into and somewhat restricts the internal dispensing passage. A change in form and function of the package actuated switch deflects the ejected pack downwardly to avoid clogging the restricted passage. Other deflector means cooperates to direct the pack through the discharge slot.

United States Patent Inventor Walter C. Ovsienko 4332 N. Morris Blvd., Milwaukee, Wis. 5321 1 Appl. No. 818,622

Filed Apr. 23, 1969 Patented Aug. 24, 197 l CIGARET DISPENSER WITH CONVERSION KIT 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl

221/129, 221/131, 221/261 Int. Cl ..G07i 11/10, 865g 59/06, B65h 3/44 Field of Search 194/2;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,095,115 6/1963 Jensen 221/129 2,671,546 3/1954 Weiler 194/2 2,255,007 9/1941 Greene et al. 221/131 X Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer Att0rney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler ABSTRACT: A conversion kit applicable on location to a conventional cigaret dispenser adapts it without externally visible change for vending packages of increased length. The required larger magazine extends into and somewhat restricts the internal dispensing passage. A change in form and function of the package actuated switch deflects the ejected pack downwardly to avoid clogging the restricted passage. Other deflector means cooperates to direct the pack through the discharge slot.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Existing cigarette vending machines (unless of very recent manufacture) are usually incapable of handling King size or I 100 mm. or 101 mm. cigarettes. The older machines have heretofore'been limited to the regular pack size or have had to be converted at the factory with'consequent expenses of conversion or exchange.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is a feature of the instant invention that the conversion magazine is readily substituted on location for the original magazine which would handle only regular size cigarettes.

The machines with which the invention is concerned hold deposited coins temporarily pending delivery of the desired pack. When such delivery occurs, a switch engaged by the dispensed pack is operated, which releases the coins for movement into the coinbox. The release mechanism, being conventional and not concerned with the invention, is not illustrated. However, the switch actuator becomes important because the conversion kit uses a sensitive microswitch of the normally 7 closed type (instead of the normally open type) and so locates the pivot of the switch actuator above the ejection path as to deflect the ejected pack downwardly rather than upwardly. In the past, the ejected pack has been forced over the actuator element, as it still is in the rear columns of the machine.

However, because of the restriction of the central passage by the increased dimensions of the conversion magazine, the longer pack might lodge in the passage except for the downwarddeflection herein contemplated. Also, there is a pack deflecting flange at the rear side of the package upon which the pack might lodge due to its downward deflection were it not for the provision of a special rear rib deflector which is also part of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a cigarette dispensing machine withportions broken away to an intennediate front to rear section.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing the opposite side of the substitute magazine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation of a portion of the conversion kit magazine. I

FIG. 4 is a view taken in section on the line 4-4of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in perspective showing the special deflector added to the rear magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cabinet 6 is provided with a coin-receiving slot at 8 and pushbuttons (one shown) at 10 for selecting the desired pack and initiating the dispensing operation. The invention contemplates no change in the ejection mechanism in the cases 12 and 14 and the pack ejectors 16 and I8 respectively operated thereby.

At the rear of the machine there are two magazines or columns and 22, the latter being a "shift column which conventionally is tilted automatically when the cigarettes in column 20 are exhausted in order to discharge the shift column cigarettes on the same route. The details are not shown because they are no part of the present invention.

The ejector 18 at the foot of column 20 has the approximate i thickness of a cigarette pack 24. It is normally at rest in a position in which the lowermost pack in column 20 rests on the ejector. When the mechanism in box 14 operates, the lever 26 is first moved to the rear to permit the first pack 24 to drop onto the surface 28. When the ejector returns to complete its cycle, it pushes the newlydeposited pack 24 ahead of it for discharge down the chute 30 into the receiving pocket 32, which is accessible to the customer. In order that the 2 discharged pack may reach the chute 30,"itjrnust pass over the actuator 34 (FIGSQ I and 5 which is pivoted on pintle'36and has a rocker arm 38 that displaces the pushrod 40 to close the contacts (not shown) of a normally open microswitch 42 which, as aforesaid, releases the coin or coins deposited in slot 8 to permit them to pass into the coinbox because of the delivery of the desired pack. As aforesaid, this structure is all conventional as thus far described. i Likewise conventional is a flange 44 which protects theactuator 34 from being engaged bya pack falling in passage 46 between the rear magazine 20 and the original or replacement magazine at the front of the machine. The only change involved at the rear of the passage in the use of the instant kit is to substitute the new flange 44 which has thin,' resiliently flexible upwardly extending supplemental deflection webs at 48 which are spaced from each other to give access to the mounting screws 50. These webs rest at their upper ends against the narrow vertical strips 49 of magazine 20 to provide additional guidance for the larger packssuch as that shown in dotted lines at 52in FIG. 1. Because of their resilient flexibility, their margins are held tightly to the rear magazine (FIG. 5).

.The magazine at the front of the machine, like that at the rear, has conventional mechanism in the casing 12 actuating an ejector 16 upon which normally rests the lowermost pack 54 in the substitute magazine 56. This magazine is mounted exactly in the same manner as the original magazine with which the machine was equipped. It has attached ears 58 screwed to brackets 60 on the inside of the front wall 62 of the cabinet 6. A major difference, obviously, is the increased width of the substitute magazine 56 to accommodate the elongated packs which now require to be dispensed.

Whereas the originalmagazine had a switch actuator comparable to that shown at 34 over which the dispensed pack had to e forced by the ejector, quite a different switching arrangement hadto be provided for the substitute magazine in order that the ejected longer pack 52 might be deflected downwardly rather than upwardly. Moreover, it has been necessary tomake the switch extremely sensitive in order that it may function in this case. i

The substitute switch is best shown at 64 in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is a microswitch having a normally closed contact with an weight thereon of a lever 68 and superimposed weight of the actuator 70 which has a longitudinal channel or bar having supporting arms 72 pivoted at 74 at the ends of the substitute magazine 56. A very light spring 76 rests on the actuator 70 and provides downward bias not only for the actuator but for the arm 68 which holds the switch open. However, the switch closes against the bias of spring 76 when relieved of the weight of the actuator.

When the lowermost pack 54 is ejected by the ejector 60 as shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 70 is forced to swing upwardly, thereby permitting the contacts (not shown) )of the normally closed switch 64 to complete the coin-releasing circuit.

At the same time, the'angle of the actuator70, and the fact that it is pivoted above the level of the pack, deflects the deflected pack downwardly as shown at 52 in FIG. I. If the pack were deflected upwardly, it would tend to lodge in the passage 46 as reduced by the increased front to rear dimension of the substitute magazine.

Because of the downward deflection of the pack and the smooth andcurved surfaces of the thin plates 48, the pack does not lodge and does not catch upon the switch 34 of the rear magazine but is discharged through the throat 30 into the receiver 32.

The replacement kit is extremely simple. For mounting the substitute magazine, it is only necessary to remove the original magazine and the original switch, replacing these parts with magazine 56 and switch 64. The only electrical connection required is the connection to the switch 64. The actuator is already mounted on the replacement magazine 56, and so is the switch.

Similarly, the original deflector is preferably removed from the rear magazine and replaced by the deflector 44 and the sheets 48 which are supported therefrom as shown in FIG. 5. The entire task is readily performed without removing the dispensing machine from its location. The time required is so short that the machine is back in service without any undue delay.

The substitute magazine 56 and the parts mounted thereon constitute the major portion of the conversion kit and these are separately illustrated in FIG. 2.

I claim:

1. A cigarette dispensing machine having a central chute and provided with cigarette pack magazines forwardly of the chute and rearwardly thereof, an ejector for each magazine constituting means for ejecting from a respective magazine the lowermost pack therein, each magazine having a pack ejection opening into said central-chute in registry with said ejector, a coin-release switch mechanism having an actuator in the path of an ejected pack, the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the magazine at the rear of the machine being pivoted below the ejection opening and the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the forward magazine having means pivotally supporting it from above the dispensing opening for the last mentioned magazine, said last mentioned actuator comprising a deflector for turning downwardly into said chute the initially rearwardly directed forward end of the ejected pack, whereby packs from the forwardly and rearwardly disposed magazines are both directed into the central chute, their leading ends which were initially opposed to each other being delivered into corresponding positions in said chute, said machine being provided rearwardly of said chute with a forwardly projecting flange above the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the magazine at the rear of the machine,

said flange having inclined web means for assisting in the deflection from the actuator serving the magazine at the rear of the machine of packs ejected into said chute from the magazine at the front of the machine, said web means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced resiliently flexible webs having their upper ends resting against vertical strips with which the magazine at the rear of the machine is provided.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO. 3,601,237 Dated August 2 1971 Inventor(s) Walter C. Ovsienko It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, Line 5%, "e should read "P Column 3, Line 18, After "mechanism" insert serving each magazine, each such ooin-reIesse swifch Signed and sealed this 25th day of January 1972.

(SEAL) 1 :1 Meat:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK III/mating Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (IO-69] USCOMM-DC 80375-5 59 u s covsnumcm PRINTING ornc: was o-ase-au 

1. A cigarette dispensing machine having a central chute and provided with cigarette pack magazines forwardly of the chute and rearwardly thereof, an ejector for each magazine constituting means for ejecting from a respective magazine the lowermost pack therein, each magazine having a pack ejection opening into said central chute in registry with said ejector, a coin-release switch mechanism having an actuator in the path of an ejected pack, the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the magazine at the rear of the machine being pivoted below the ejection opening and the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the forward magazine having means pivotally supporting it from above the dispensing opening for the last mentioned magazine, said last mentioned actuator comprising a deflector for turning downwardly into said chute the initially rearwardly directed forward end of the ejected pack, whereby packs from the forwardly and rearwardly disposed magazines are both directed into the central chute, their leading ends which were initially opposed to each other being delivered into corresponding positions in said chute, said machine being provided rearwardly of said chute with a forwardly projecting flange above the actuator for the switch mechanism serving the magazine at the rear of the machine, said flange having inclined web means for assisting in the deflection from the actuator serving the magazine at the rear of the machine of packs ejected into said chute from the magazine at the front of the machine, said web means comprising a plurality of laterally spaced resiliently flexible webs having their upper ends resting against vertical strips with which the magazine at the rear of the machine is provided. 